Valentine’s tragedy: Drunk taxi driver kills Thai couple

A drunken Thai taxi driver crashed into a couple on a motorcycle on the Liab Khlong Sam Road in the central province of Pathum Thani yesterday, leading to the victims’ deaths.

Khlong Luang Police Station officers were alerted to the fatal accident at 7.30am yesterday, February 14, and rushed to the scene with a rescue team. The two victims, a 41 year old man named Thanot Kongsomrit and his 40 year old wife Pornnipha Pimpha, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Thanot’s body was found on the bank of the canal along the road and Pornnipha’s body was found on the footpath. The accident happened as Thanot was taking his wife to the school where she worked. Their motorcycle, a Honda PCX, was in the canal.

The damaged green-yellow taxi car was parked in the middle of the road. The driver, 45 year old Nathon Thamsaeng, was inside. He suffered a minor head injury and was under the influence of alcohol. Officers found that the alcohol level in his system was 151 milligrammes per cent, well over the legal limit.

A witness told police that Nathon drove at a high speed before going against the flow of traffic and hitting the victims’ motorcycle. Dashcam footage from another car at the scene showed the taxi driver trying to avoid traffic in his lane by driving against the flow of traffic.

The taxi driver, Nathon, denied the allegation, stating that the victims cut in front of his car. He added that he was not drunk but admitted to drinking beer before driving.

Officers had to swiftly remove the suspect from the scene as locals in the area attempted to assault him for lying about the accident.

As a result of his actions, Nathon could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both under Section 291 of the Criminal Code: reckless driving causing death.